Mercenary's Honor
Sarna News
| Mercenary's Honor | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Novella by Jason Schmetzer | |||
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| First Publication | |||
| Published | 30 June 2022 | ||
| Publisher | Catalyst Game Labs | ||
| Illustrator(s) |
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| Pages | 165 (EPUB) | ||
| MSRP | $2.99 (EPUB) | ||
| PIC | CAT35894 | ||
| Chronology | |||
| Era | ilClan era | ||
| Timeline | 21 January 3152 — 7 February 3152 | ||
| Series | |||
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Mercenary's Honor is a novella by Jason Schmetzer that was first published in EPUB format on 30 June 2022. In January 2024, it was republished in print in the BattleTech omnibus collection Gray Death Rising.
From the Back Cover[edit]
| “ | CONTRACTS MAKE STRANGE ALLIES…
For new mercenary groups just starting out, one of the primary rules is "Follow the money." Even when it’s being paid by the same people who forced you to become a mercenary unit in the first place. Ronan and Isobel Carlyle are experiencing this right now, having accepted a contract from the newly-formed Tamar Pact, the cluster of planets that recently seceded from the Lyran Commonwealth — and got the once-loyal Carlyle siblings cashiered as turncoats. Now the Pact wants the Legion's help with one of their newer planets, Crimond. But murky mission parameters and an unhelpful liaison officer leaves Ronan and Bel wondering who’s a friend and who’s a foe. And when the Legion splits up to handle two different missions, Bel finds herself an entire continent away, on a mission to scout an abandoned Star League base. But she soon discovers the base — and the nearby community — is anything but abandoned… and if she doesn’t act fast, she and her GDL commandos will receive a welcome they won’t walk away from… |
” |
Plot Summary[edit]
On 21 January 3152, on the Condor continent of Crimond, a man named Curtain is carried to the coast by a fishing boat. On land, a woman named Andy Ishikawa picks him up with a jeep and drives him home. They talk about rumors of new invaders that have arrived and taken control of the Crimond's main continent.
On 2 February, in the planetary capital Sol City, Isobel and Ronan Carlyle of the Gray Death Legion discuss the planet's conquest. Isobel is surprised to learn that the Tamar Pact, their employers, won control of Crimond by defeating the planetary defenders in a Trial of Possession—a car race. Their meeting is cut short when a nearby government building explodes, concussing both Carlyles and Isobel suffers a minor injury.
Later, during a Tamar Pact officers' briefing, the Carlyles are updated on the planetary situation. After meeting their liaison officer, they accept two missions: Ronan will lead a counterterrorism operation, while Isobel will command an expedition to investigate an old Star League fortress on the second continent Condor.
Isobel and her detachment travel by DropShip to Condor, where they are met by Curtain—a former Clanner—along with several tanks and infantry. Isobel calls for a truce to speak with the locals, which Curtain agrees to.
Unbeknownst to all, a technician named Bernard Blucher, a Lyran loyalist, has spend some time to inspect the fortress, Fort Belvoir. He learns how to reactivate its systems. When Isobel and her infantry make contact with the nearby settlers, the locals—known as Condors—respond peacefully, and Curtain welcomes them. After hearing that the Tamar Pact has formed, however, Blucher is outraged. He rallies a group of Lyran loyalists and seizes control of the fortress for the Lyran Commonwealth.
Blucher brings Fort Belvoir's automated defenses online and launches an attack against both the Legion and the Condor forces near the DropShip landing zone. But a group of Legionnaires, along with Curtain and his followers, are already inside the fortress. They storm Blucher's command post and, after a brief but intense firefight, kill or capture his followers. Blucher himself is taken prisoner.
On 7 February 3152, the Legion detachment returns to Sol City. After reporting the mission's success to their liaison, Isobel tells Ronan that Curtain, Ishikawa, and several other locals wish to join the Legion. Ronan hesitates but ultimately agrees, welcoming them into the Gray Death Legion.